From Goals to Graduates: Making Learning Visible and Measurable

From Goals to Graduates: Making Learning Visible and Measurable

I’m excited to share my recently published book chapter from Metrics, Mapping, and Modelling for Masterful Management in Higher Education (Emerald Press, 2025) entitled Create a curriculum that is optimized for maximal student learning.

Chapter 10 focuses on the most important “metrics” in higher education: the ones that measure student learning. It explains why clear learning goals and measurable learning outcomes are essential for defining what students should know and be able to do at each degree level, and how to write strong Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) using the appropriate level of Bloom’s Taxonomy. The chapter also introduces established frameworks like the Degree Qualifications Profile (DQP) and the Tuning initiatives as useful guides for setting outcomes across credentials and programs, and clarifies key distinctions—curriculum vs. co-curriculum vs. extra-curriculum, general vs. liberal education, and why Honors outcomes should be meaningfully different. Readers learn how institutional, college, and departmental goals cascade into programs, how Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) progressively build toward PLOs (often aligned with course level), and how outcomes can be mapped to design coherent sequences, prerequisites, and shared courses that support majors, Gen Ed, and Honors. The result is a practical approach to building curriculum maps and designing credentials that are intentionally structured for maximum student learning.

Many of the book’s chapters have a companion video which can be viewed for free on the Higher Education Leadership Learning Online Community web site. Visit the site to see the complete and evolving list.

If you’re involved in higher-ed leadership, strategy, assessment, or institutional research, I’d love for you to take a look at the chapter and add your comments below. If you would like assistance implementing any of the ideas addressed, please compete a consultation request form – the first hour is free for any institution.